“Well, she seems pleased when I call her. She’s pleased when I ask her to do things with me. But she doesn’t…!
don’t get the impression she wants to be in a relationship. Not with me, at any rate. Tonight at dinner was the first time I’ve even held her hand. “
“You’re kidding,” Daria said.
“No, I’m not. And when I brought her back to Poll-Rory, she darted out of the car before I could attempt to… get any closer. Don’t you think that’s a little strange?”
“Not really,” Daria said. What she did think was that Grace was completely out of her mind. “Her marriage just ended. She probably needs some time to get used to the idea of being with someone else.”
“Maybe,” Rory said.
“It’s just not what I’m used to. Women usually come on to me. I don’t mean that as a brag. I know it’s because of my celebrity, not necessarily because of who I am as a person. But that just makes Grace more interesting to me. She’s so… fragile. Did you pick that up?”
She had, indeed. She’d noticed a tremor in Grace’s hands, and a couple of times, in her voice, as well. It was the first time she’d really seen Grace up close, and she was truly beautiful, in a pale sort of way.
“Yes, I did, Mr. Caretaker,” she said.
“Did you ever ask her about her illness?”
“No. I figure she’ll tell me when she’s ready to.”
“You two need to talk,” she said.
“It doesn’t sound like there’s much communication going on between you.”
Rory didn’t answer. He looked down at his hands, as if studying them in the Sea Shanty’s porch light. Daria wanted to touch one of them, to slip her fingertips beneath his palm and trace a line up his wrist.
“Zack seemed to hit it off with Shelly,” Rory said suddenly.
“He did,” Daria agreed.
“Shelly was so good with him,” Rory said.
“As soon as we got home, though, he and Kara took off for the miniature-golf course.” He shook his head.
“The two of them worry me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t now. Kara looks a little fast to me.”
Daria laughed.
“What does a fast girl look like?” she asked.
“Oh, you know. The way she dresses. The pierced belly button. Too much blond in her hair. Too much eye makeup.”
“Do you think Zack is still a virgin?”
Rory looked at her with wide-eyed disbelief.
“Of course,” he said.
“He’s only fifteen. Give me a break.” “Fifteen-year-olds are a lot different than when we were kids,” Daria said.
Rory said nothing.
“Have you talked to him about it?” Daria asked.
“I mean, do you ever have frank, father-son talks?”
“Iwish.” Rory groaned, lowering his head to his hands. T guess I need to give him the sex-and-responsibility talk. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to get into that yet. He and I can’t even talk about what to have for dinner, much less sex. “
“You probably need to talk with him while you’re doing some activity together. You know how men are more comfortable relating through sports or whatever.”
‘ Ts that how you are, since you hang out with guys all the time? “
“I am still a female,” she said, thoroughly insulted.
He smiled at her.
“I’ve noticed that,” he said.
“Especially tonight at the restaurant. You clean up good.”
“Thanks,” she said wryly. She figured that might be the best compliment she would get out of him.
“You raised Shelly,” Rory said.
“Was she ever rebellious? Did you have any problems with her when she was Zack’s age?”
“Shelly was easy,” Daria said.
“The only time she and I ever butted heads was when I made her break up with those guys several years ago.
